An exploration nearly 400 meters beneath the Labrador Sea has unveiled the initial visuals of the vessel Quest that transported the renowned Antarctic explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton on his last journey. The Royal Canadian Geographical Society (RCGS) deployed a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) to capture images of the sunken ship’s remains off the Labrador coast in 1962.
Exclusive access to this exploration was granted to CBC News, taking place aboard the research vessel Atlantis. The first images displayed the rear section of the exploration vessel entangled in fishing equipment. David Mearns, co-chief scientist for the expedition and an experienced shipwreck hunter, expressed concern about the wreckage being ensnared in old fishing gear, potentially causing more damage than if left undisturbed on the ocean floor. The RCGS initially located the Quest wreck two years ago using side-scan sonar technology.
Despite no indications of nets in the original data, the current imagery clearly reveals their presence, disappointing the team. This extensive expedition, costing millions of dollars, marks the largest ever undertaken by the RCGS.
Partnering with the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in Massachusetts, the RCGS utilized their vessel and submersible to investigate two shipwrecks in the Labrador Sea. John Geiger, the RCGS CEO and expedition leader, personally descended in the submersible Alvin for the initial dive on the Quest wreckage, expressing a poignant moment witnessing the emergence of the ship’s bow from the darkness.
Originally acquired by Shackleton for Northern Canada exploration, Quest’s purpose shifted to Antarctic expeditions due to lack of Canadian government support. Shackleton passed away onboard in 1922 near South Georgia. Following its wartime role as a minesweeper, the vessel was later utilized for seal hunting until its demise in 1962 off Labrador’s south coast.
Although the wreck’s name and registration number are not visible, research director Antoine Normandin confirmed the vessel as Quest based on distinctive features aligning with historical photographs. The expedition aims to create a digital replica of the wreck through 3D imaging technology, despite challenges posed by fishing nets obstructing the starboard side. The mission seeks to unravel the mysteries surrounding the wreck and its surrounding debris field.
After exploring Quest, the expedition will venture to Greenland’s southern tip to investigate another wreck, Terra Nova, previously owned by the Bowring Company. This vessel was pivotal in Robert Falcon Scott’s tragic 1912 South Pole expedition.
